U.S. Marshals take suspect in fatal shooting at Waterbury social club into custody in Hartford

A suspect in the killing of a 40-year-old man at a Waterbury social club last month was found in Hartford on Wednesday and arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Joshua Morales, 29, was found in an apartment on Washington Street where he was taken into custody and arrested on a warrant charging him in the July 16 fatal shooting of Gregory Robertson of Fredericksburg, Virginia, according to the U.S. Marshals Service District of Connecticut.

Morales was apprehended by the Connecticut U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force as well as police officers from Waterbury and Hartford. He faces charges of murder, possession of a large capacity magazine, illegal alteration to a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm and use of a machine gun in a violent crime.

Morales was held in lieu of $3 million bail pending arraignment in Waterbury Superior Court.

According to Waterbury police, Robertson was killed in a July 16 shooting at the Bunker Social Club. Police found a large crowd gathered outside of the club in the area of Watertown Avenue at about 4 a.m. and found Robertson inside the club suffering from a gunshot wound, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police also learned that two additional gunshot victims believed to be injured in the same incident were treated at Saint Mary’s Hospital.

Within 10 days of the shooting Waterbury police said they had a warrant for Morales on murder and other charges. He had been on the lam since prior to his apprehension Wednesday.

Investigators also said they had a warrant for the owner of the club, identified as 34-year-old Andrew Dennis, on charges of second-degree reckless endangerment and operation of an unlicensed bar. Judicial records reviewed Wednesday showed no pending charges or convictions on his record in connection with the July 16 incident.

Waterbury police the day of the shooting arrested 34-year-old German Pena-Lopez of Waterbury, on charges of illegal possession of weapons in a motor vehicle, carrying a pistol without a permit, first-degree threatening and illegal transfer sale of a firearm. Those charges are still pending, judicial records indicate.